To J. D. Hooker   31 July [1873]1

Down, | Beckenham, Kent.

July 31st

My dear Hooker

As soon as you return please send me a Post-card, with word “yes” on it.—2

I have 3 common garden plants which it is of great importance for me to know the correct names, & I would send you specimens in tin-box. I think it could not take you many minutes to name them. I have seen various names used, & am quite bothered. I hope your tour has answered.3

Yours affect, | C. Darwin

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from J. D. Hooker, 3 August 1873.
2
Hooker accompanied Thomas Henry Huxley on a recuperative visit to France from 2 July to 2 August 1873 (see letters from J. D. Hooker, 30 June 1873 and 3 August 1873).
3
The plants have not been identified but they were probably named by Hooker when he visited Down on 23 August 1873 (see letter to J. D. Hooker, 4 August [1873], and Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242)).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-8991,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-8991